NCP stalwart Ganesh Naik joining BJP? MLA Jitendra Awhad scotches report

THANE: NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad today rubbished media reports that senior party leader and former minister Ganesh Naik is switching over to BJP, besides three MLAs of the party.

"Naik enjoys long association with Pawarsaheb ( NCP chief Sharad Pawar) and I can assure you that he will never take such decision (of quitting NCP). This is just a political game to defame him," Awhad said responding to a query by reporters on whether Naik is on his way out of the party.

Naik was defeated in his pocketborough Belapur in Navi Mumbai by Manda Mhatre of BJP in October Assembly elections.

When his comment is sought on rumours that NCP MLAs Jyoti Kalani, Pandurang Varora and Anand Thakur are crossing over to the BJP, Awhad said, "these MLAs called up Ajit Pawar ( senior NCP leader and ex-deputy chief minister) on his mobile phone and confirmed that they are staying with NCP."

When asked whether Naik met Pawar, apparently to sound him out of his decision, Awhad evaded direct reply.

Awhad, who represents Mumbra-Kalwa seat in Thane, also criticised chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for "seeking to undermine the federal structure" by proposing a committee under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fast-track development of Mumbai.

"We want a chief minister who thinks for the overall development of the state but here the CM is out to break the state," he said.

Awhad also alleged that Fadnavis, who hails from Nagpur, is pushing for Vidarbha-centric development at the expense of development of rest of Maharashtra. PTI